Are you like me, who cringe at the thought of contaminated drinking water? Then this article most definitely is for you!
Here, we tackle the Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher that claims to remove up to 99% of contaminants from your drinking water. However, it does not come without a rather high price tag, so the question is: is it worth it?
This water filter variant is not the first in the market. There are a handful of others that claim to filter your drinking water as well. The concept is old, but the filtering abilities of the new ones in the market are increasing. So, if you’re planning to get a water filter, the greatest consideration is the best model to purchase.
Have you ever tried searching for a pitcher filter online? If yes, you’ve probably already encountered the Aquagear’s pitcher. To know what’s the hype all about, let’s all break down how it differs from its competitors.
What is it, and how does it work?
The Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher is all its name pertains to—a pitcher that filters are drinking water. Other companies, such as PUR and Brita, have their respective filter pitcher models. Still, an increasing surge of higher quality models that can remove higher amounts of contaminants is widely available today.
The clear-cut difference between then and now is that in the past, companies have no means of claiming the removal of chemicals like chlorine and fluoride. Today, better carbon filters effectively eradicate dozens of contaminants from tap water.
Aquagear’s strong points are that it meets the NSF standards while using safe plastic as it delivers fresh and clean drinking water. As water is poured from the top, the water penetrates the filter before settling down into the plastic container by which you can then store and drink your crisper and cleaner drinking water anytime.
Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher
What makes it different from its competitors?
Although most pitcher filters function the same way, the competition lies in each of their filtration capability. The greater the filtration, the cleaner the water. What exactly makes the Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher unique?
- The Filter
The single filter in the Aquagear pitcher contains activated carbon derived from coconut shells and minerals that facilitate ion exchange. The coconut shells and the minerals remove tap water’s unwanted and harmful contaminants.
The functions of activated carbon include removing chlorine, sediment particles, and other unstable organic compounds and eliminating any foul odors or unpleasant tastes. On the other hand, minerals facilitate ion exchange by utilizing a negative charge to attract and capture positively charged contaminants like sodium, iron, and manganese.
Although how Aquagear filters water is not much different from other models, its benefit is its use of carbon from coconut shells which provides a less porous layer of carbon. This filter can trap minute contaminants, unlike the usual filters derived from peat and wood. Peat and wood filters feature 500-nanometer macro-sized pores instead of coconut shells’ 4-nanometer filters.
On top of those, each filter is 100% recyclable, making it good for our environment. In addition, USPS includes a return mailing bag with every parcel to make the process easy for the customers. You may even send an email to Aquagear for a chance to receive free postage.
Each Aquagear filter can filter up to 150 gallons of water. That is approximately 6 months’ worth of drinking water. However, do note that the water quality also plays a role in the lifespan of every filter. Once the carbon’s micro holes fill up with contaminants, it is time for filter replacement. So the dirtier the water is, the faster the holes fill up.
- The Pitcher
Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher utilizes BPA-free plastic that is 100% recyclable and FDA-approved to ensure an even safer drinking experience.
The pitcher has a half-gallon capacity with the filter, while the top compartment can simultaneously accommodate 1.5 cups of water. It takes about eight cups of water to fill the whole pitcher. In terms of duration, the Aquagear pitcher can be filled in about five minutes.
- Contaminants Removed
The defining factor of the different filter pitchers is the contaminants they can remove. Before finalizing your purchase, carefully look into the filter’s capabilities. The contaminants the Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher can remove include the following (but are not limited to):
- Chloramines – 99.9%
- Chlorine – 99.9%
- Thallium – 99.9%
- Lead – 99.9%
- Arsenic – 99.8%
- Chromium 6 – 99.4%
- Trihalomethanes – 99%
- Benzene – 98.7%
- Chloroform – 98.7%
- Mercury – 97.8%
- Nitrate – 97.6%
- Nitrite – 92%
- Fluoride – 90.1%
The Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher has undergone continuous testing for over 15 years and is certified by the NSF (The Public Health and Safety Organization), so we are assured that the company doesn’t just make up these numbers. The pitcher received a passing mark regarding the health and aesthetic effects of the organization’s standards on drinking water units (#42 and #53).
Like all else, the Aquagear model does not come without a flaw. There are some contaminants it is unable to remove. As the other filters in the market go, this model is not meant to filter untreated water since only distillers, reverse osmosis systems, and gravity fillers are capable of such.
That said, the Aquagear filter is meant to be utilized with a public water supply such as tap water or disinfected well water. Untreated water requires special filtration systems because it contains harmful microbiological pollutants such as bacteria and viruses.
Last but not least, note that the carbon-based filter cannot eradicate healthy minerals from the water being filtered, making it a great option. Some of the healthy minerals in context are calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
- Price Tag
The Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher may range from under $70 to over $100, depending on the merchant. The good news is that the pitcher retails for $69.95 only when purchased from the manufacturer or Amazon, so there’s no need to shell out extra money.
The marked-up prices are primarily seen from eBay sellers. However, to avoid unnecessary expenses, it is best to buy the product straight from Aquagear.
For consideration as well as the price tag of the filters. These filters should be replaced once a significant amount of contaminants are already present. The filter costs $49.95 each.
However, if you sign up for Aquagear’s subscription service on their website, you are entitled to a 20% discount marking the price as low as $39.96 per filter. In addition, the service delivers a new filter every six months, which is the estimated wear-out duration of a single filter.
On top of all the Aquagear goodness, the company donates a portion of the filter’s cost to installing bio-sand water filters in other countries. Aquagear envisions providing six months of clean water to those in need. So, you can have your water filter pitcher and create a good impact on top of it. I must say it’s one good deal!
What do people have to say?
With an overall rating that toggles around four and four and a half stars, it is pretty evident that Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher’s reviews are largely positive. However, as with all else, product reviews have pros and cons.
PROS:
- The filter’s effectiveness is one of the most evident advantages of the model. A handful even stated that they brought their pitcher on beach vacations, where they attested that the water tasted as crisp and clean as of those poured from a spring.
- The filter works faster than other models of its kind. As discussed, the half-gallon can be filled in as fast as five minutes. Some customers also stated that a 6-month lifespan for every filter is a decent duration.
- The Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher comes with a lifetime warranty with each purchase. The company offers to exchange any part of the pitcher that breaks or wears down. Additionally, they offer a full refund for those who aren’t satisfied with the pitcher for 30 days.
CONS:
- The filter’s price tag is significantly higher than the other models in the market.
- Lack of indicator as to when the filter should be replaced.
- Some customers highlighted that the water flow slows down over time. Although this is a normal response to the porous holes trapping the contaminants, some are bothered by it. But, of course, you know the filter has trapped all it can once it settles to a light trickle.
Aquagear vs. the competitors
Although there are numerous water filtering pitchers in the market today, Alexapure and Clearly Filtered remain Aquagear’s biggest competitors.
Aquagear vs. Alexapure
Based on specifications, Aquagear and Alexapure are similar in more ways than one. Both pitchers are derived from BPA-free, food-grade plastic, and the contaminants are removed with similar filtration capability. Each pitcher has an equal capacity of eight cups of water, and their filters are also made from materials of similar nature.
One notable difference is that Aquagear’s filter lasts significantly longer than the Alexapure, which is only capable of filtering 80 gallons of water compared to Aquagear’s 150-gallon filter capacity.
On top of that, the Alexapure is not NSF-certified, but some independent research studies show similar filtering capabilities. On the other hand, an advantage of the Alexapure is that it is cheaper.
Aquagear vs. Clearly Filtered
Clearly Filtered filter pitcher overtakes Aquagear on various specifications. Clearly Filtered is made of higher quality, medical grade plastic as opposed to Aquagear’s food grade variant.
In addition, it passes the 42, 53, and 401 (Emerging Compounds/Incidental Contaminants) NSF standards. This is because Clearly Filtered utilizes a higher filtration system called reverse osmosis. With this, the pitcher can additionally filter:
- The pesticide DEET
- Ibuprofen and Naproxen medications
- Metolachlor and Linuron are herbicides
- TCEP and TCPP chemicals
- BPA from plastics
- Nonylphenol, found in detergents
- Traces of prescription drugs include Meprobamate, Phenytoin, Atenolol, Carbamazepine, Trimethoprim, and Estrone.
- Few microorganisms like E.coli, giardia, and cryptosporidium by up to 99%
The filters of both pitchers have a 6-month lifespan, and each has the same water-holding capacity.
Now, let’s talk about their pricing. The Aquagear pitcher is more expensive than Filtered by almost $10, but the replacement filters cost the same. If Aquagear offers a 20% discount for its service subscribers, the Clearly Filtered replacement filters come in three and six packs.
You can save $9.85 for every bundle of three, while the bundle of six lets you save $29.70. Although the Clearly Filtered pitcher is more affordable, you’ll spend more on its replacement filters in the long run.
The verdict
After this discussion, we give the Aquagear Water Filter an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5. It may not be the best pitcher out there, but it is one of the most efficient in the market.
The points considered for our Aquagear rating are:
- The construction of the pitcher is solid with the utilization of safe materials. In addition, it is ergonomically designed, providing its customers ease of use.
- Aquagear has an incredible filtering ability of over 90% among the major contaminants (most up to 99%).
- Aquagear meets the NSF standards compared to its competitors.
- We think that Aquagear still has room for improvement regarding the contaminants. However, it can remove from your water with the utilization of a higher-grade plastic, especially when compared to Clearly Filtered.
We hope you learned a thing or two from this article. Happy water filter shopping!
Jay
Jay is a health and wellness enthusiast with expertise in water quality and nutrition. As a knowledgeable advocate for holistic well-being, Jay successfully manages Type 2 Diabetes through informed lifestyle choices. Committed to sharing reliable and authoritative insights, Jay combines firsthand experience with a passion for enhancing health."
